A huge day of rugby union beckons for the annual University of New England parents’ weekend. St Albert’s and Robb Colleges will clash for the first time since the 2017 grand final and a huge crowd is expected. Albies are coming off an 8-7 win over Tamworth and will be aiming to fend off their university counterparts who were downed 28-20 by the Blues on Saturday. “Parents’ weekend is certainly one of the games we look forward to on the calendar,” Albies’ coach Chris Kelly said. “For us it is probably the second-biggest day of the year behind the grand final I would say. “We haven't played Robb yet and playing off last year's grand final, they are obviously going to be pretty handy and it is going to be a solid test I would imagine. “If we have any element of complacency [against] Robb I would say Robb will punish us for it so I am expecting our guys to be very signed on.” Robb coach Sam Ditchfield is expecting an fast-paced game after consecutive matches against physical Barbarians and Blues outfits. RELATED: Wiggins to be honoured at Robb-Albies clash “It is going to be an interesting game because we both play a similar style of up-tempo footy whereas in the last couple of weeks we have been playing against teams that don't play that sort of style of footy and try and slow everything down as much as they possibly can,” he said. “It should be a good, fast game I imagine. “I don't know too much about Albies, we haven't played them as yet but it is always a good clash. “I suppose it is the first time we have met since the grand final but that is last year, we have to get on with this year. “We do play similar football so it will be a great game to watch anyway.” Ditchfield said his team defended for much of the second-half against the Blues after leading at half-time. He believes the Robb team look dangerous with the ball in hand. “I think when we had the ball we nearly scored points but we just didn't have the ball so I think what we have learnt from that is you can't win footy games without the football and we have got to make the most of the possession when we have got it,” Ditchfield said. “Against Armidale on the weekend, we went into half-time up 8-6 and for the next 10 minutes of the second-half I don't think we had the football. “We got the football and gave it straight back to them and then we went another 10 minutes without the football in which time they put a few points on us and then we managed to get a little bit of ball and when we had ball, we scored points against them. “We went a good 20 minutes of that game without seeing the football in the second-half out of the 40.”

“It is going to be an interesting game because we both play a similar style of up-tempo footy whereas in the last couple of weeks we have been playing against teams that don't play that sort of style of footy and try and slow everything down as much as they possibly can,” he said.

“It should be a good, fast game I imagine.

“I don't know too much about Albies, we haven't played them as yet but it is always a good clash.

“I suppose it is the first time we have met since the grand final but that is last year, we have to get on with this year.

“We do play similar football so it will be a great game to watch anyway.”

Ditchfield said his team defended for much of the second-half against the Blues after leading at half-time.

He believes the Robb team look dangerous with the ball in hand.

“I think when we had the ball we nearly scored points but we just didn't have the ball so I think what we have learnt from that is you can't win footy games without the football and we have got to make the most of the possession when we have got it,” Ditchfield said.

“Against Armidale on the weekend, we went into half-time up 8-6 and for the next 10 minutes of the second-half I don't think we had the football.

“We got the football and gave it straight back to them and then we went another 10 minutes without the football in which time they put a few points on us and then we managed to get a little bit of ball and when we had ball, we scored points against them.

“We went a good 20 minutes of that game without seeing the football in the second-half out of the 40.”